Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Disney and the Walt Disney Animation Studios. I received an all-expense paid trip so that I could gather and share this information. However, all experiences and opinions are always 100% honest and my own.

Interviewing Kevin Costner on McFarland USA

This was such a fun interview for me. He is really as nice as he appears. We all had a great time even though he thought we were mommy blockers! LOL Go see McFarland USA out on 2/20!! You will not regret it. Here’s the trailer for you to see!

And now the Kevin Costner Interview for McFarland USA!

What was the most rewarding part about doing this movie?

I had the such a journey in this business. Making movies to me was like recess. Making up my own life, play and doing what I wanted to do was just like recess. That happened for me. As I conduct my career going forward it’s more than just movies. Movies are an important part of my life. But it’s the tip of the iceberg and it’s more than the world sees. The rewarding part of McFarland is that I don’t plan my life so much that I miss the little story of McFarland. I played against McFarland in high school. The important thing for me was that I was able to highlight a culture that we see all the time as we’re driving down the highway. This story shows us how the food gets to us. One that highlights this town and there’s little McFarland’s everywhere in America. It’s a little form of filmography to be a part of this movie.

What kind of training did you do?

Training? I hate running. I did what you see in the movie. I ran with them and then I quit, sat down and had a coke. It was spelled out for me in the script what I would do. It’s a sport I’m not familiar with. So I had to read up on it and study it. I had to try to be resourceful because these kids had no place to even train. There wasn’t training involved for me. Just being heavily involved in these young mens lives. There’s so much more involved then the finish line. The finish line is for them (the boys). The boys exceed beyond our expectations. We can all do that. We’re not done. What you want to be in your life is still in front of us. The same thing we offer our children we need to offer ourselves.

How much time did you spend with Jim White?

How much time did I spend with his wife? laughter. I met him before shooting.. He came to the set and we’d talk. He saw the equipment, set and stuff for the first time. He wondered, like everyone does, why it takes so long to make a movie. I was able to glean some useful information from him.

How did playing ball in high school affect your doing this film?

I grew up around migrant farm workers. A lot of the kids I competed with their father’s were pickers. I had competed with and fought with and laughed with Mexican kids my whole life.

What is it about sports films that you find so appealing?

There’s a lot of sports films that come to me that I never do. The best ones are about the people. We are always wanting to see ourselves in the movie. We see that in Maria Bello’s portrayal of Jim’s wife. She was shipped around to a place she’d never been and maybe wasn’t going to be a whole lot of fun to be at. To be able to come home and have your partner stand for you is something. My wife stood for me when I made Black or White.

Does your daughter sing in that movie?

Yes she does sing in Black and White. This movie and McFarland helps us go forward. In this movie we see a reflection in ourselves. When no one wanted to make Black or White she supported me because I had to use my own money to make it. I thought that would be a movie to help change you a bit.

Was it easy to slip into Jim White’s character?

Yes, it was easy to see how I would do things his way and why even.

Were you like a father figure to the boys on set?

I didn’t try to be. I am in a position to let that happen. But I just wanted that to happen on it’s own. I didn’t want to be Yoda preaching to them. It’s more authentic when they actually come to you and I’m not spouting off. It was important for me that they be good. That they be good for Niki (director). They owe it to be as prepared as they can everyday. So I talked to them about professionalism and what they do. You can get carried away with the pay and forget that you have a job. So we talked about that. Then they wanted to know about all the girls I kissed . If you want to keep kissing girls the best way is to not talk about it.

What was the most emotional part for you?

The highlight of the movie was at the last race. They’ve gone from thinking nothing was possible to find that everything’s possible. They saw the buses pull up that weren’t theirs that were bigger and shinier. They saw the uniforms that were better. The kids were bigger. So all of a sudden they started shrinking. Going back to McFarland and weren’t going to be able to compete at this level. That’s where older men and women are most useful. They say no you belong here. You make them feel like giants. What happened? They won and they continued to win. I hope someone talks to my son/daughter that way if I’m not around.

It was refreshing to interview someone who wasn’t afraid to be himself. He laughed, he joked, he cursed and we all had a good time. We left thinking he’s the real deal. My husband said when he made Waterworld that we had to go see it to support Kevin. Well friends go see McFarland USA to not to support Kevin but to be refreshed about the human spirit and how food gets to your table. It’s a must see film in my book! You will not regret seeing this film. You will leave feeling good about life.

Thanks! Have you gone on these before? It sounds like so much fun. I was surprised to see a recent photo of him. I remember him from several years ago. We are all getting older. He still looks good though.

Thank you for the terrific interview. Kevin Costner has always been one of my favorite actors and this interview cements my opinion. He’s very talented and looks forward to try to teach lessons with his movies, his life and actions.

I have read this interview twice and all I keep saying is that I really want to see this movie. It seems really interesting and a “feel good” movie. I would love to take the family and make it a family outing.

JEALOUS!! I love Kevin Costner, he seems like such a genuine, down-to-earth guy. Not to mention he’s super talented, handsome, funny…I could go on and on. I bet interviewing him was such an amazing, surreal experience! Thanks for sharing the interview, really enjoyed it!

I love Kevin, he makes the parts believable, real. I have family from all over the world, Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Germany, Sweden, Scotland, I have been blessed by Diversity. We must first believe in ourselves, then help others to achieve their potential.